Rochester man no-show in court for felony charges

CANTON  The 19-year-old Rochester man charged in an April drug-related stabbing and robbery in Ogdensburg was a no-show for his second arraignment on Monday in St. Lawrence County Court.

Olajuwon J. Holt had been released from jail awaiting an indictment that came from a St. Lawrence County grand jury earlier this month for first-degree robbery and criminal possession of a controlled substance, both class B felonies, and first-degree attempted assault, a class C felony.

Mr. Holts arraignment was not adjourned by St. Lawrence County Judge Jerome J. Richards, and he has been given until Friday to surrender himself.

Mr. Holts attorney, Mary E. Rain, said Mr. Holt failed to check his mail and didnt know that he was to appear in court Monday morning. She said she hoped to reach him before the court issued a bench warrant on Friday if he again failed to appear.

Mr. Holt had been held on the indictment charges and multiple misdemeanor charges from April 16 to June 13, when he was released as a result of a 45-day motion filed by Ms. Rain. The district attorneys office has 45 days from the time of a felony arrest to bring an indictment.

It is alleged that Mr. Holt, also known as Fraido, entered the home of Michael J. Wells, 1130 Ford St., Ogdensburg, on April 15 to buy marijuana, and that while there, he grabbed the drugs and approximately $500. When confronted by Mr. Wells, Mr. Holt produced a large, fixed-blade knife and stabbed Mr. Wells in the chest and in his side before fleeing on foot, police said.

Mr. Wells was treated at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, Ogdensburg, for two stab wounds and released.

Police found Mr. Holt at 11 p.m. the same day in an upstairs bedroom of a house on Mill Street, Ogdensburg. He was found in possession of several capsules of oxycodone and more than 25 grams of marijuana stored in four sandwich bags, according to police.

In other court action Monday:

Edwin G. Roach, 53, of 511 Knox St., Ogdensburg, pleaded not guilty at arraignment to two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, all class B felonies, fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony, and criminal sale of a controlled substance, a class D felony.

It is alleged that Mr. Roach was in possession of and sold cocaine to another person in Ogdensburg on Feb. 23 and March 5, 2012. Additionally, it is alleged that he was in possession of and sold codeine in the city on April 3, 2012.

Kayla M. OBrien, 19, Route 345, Potsdam, was placed on one year of interim probation after a May 28 guilty plea to third-degree grand larceny, a class D Felony.

Ms. OBrien was arrested in July 2012 after stealing $600 in cash and four checks from her grandfather, which she then forged for a total of $2,500.

By successfully completing the one-year sentence, Ms. OBrien is seeking to earn a youthful-offender status.

Ms. OBrien was ordered to pay $6,506 in restitution and $650 in court fines. Sentencing was adjourned to Aug. 11, 2014.

Gilbert B. Murdoch, 49, Niagara Falls, was returned to St. Lawrence County jail without bail after his attorney, Peter A. Dumas, and St. Lawrence County Assistant District Attorney Joshua A. HaberkornHalm both recommended that he be released under probation supervision while awaiting a chemical dependency evaluation.

He pleaded not guilty during his Aug. 12 arraignment on a charge of felony driving while intoxicated but subsequently tested positive for THC and cocaine in a drug test administered by county probation officials.

He is scheduled to return to court Sept. 5.

Andrew M. France, 34, DeKalb Junction, was sentenced to an indeterminate term of one to three years in state prison after an April 17, 2012, guilty plea to felony DWI.

Mr. France, who is on parole, tried to strike a deal with the court by seeking to have his parole sentence, scheduled to end June 10, extended by two years. The agreement could not be reached. In addition to Mr. Frances prison sentence, Judge Richards ordered a conditional discharge of three years of post release supervision, court fines, fees and surcharges of $1,570 and restitution in the amount of $2,053.

Amanda H. Clark, 34, formerly of 511 Elizabeth St., Ogdensburg, was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to felony DWI on May 14.

Probation supervision will be transferred to Oneida County, where Ms. Clark currently is housed in a Catholic Charities Halfway House in Utica.

Ms. Clark thanked the judge for having her incarcerated, as she said it was a moment of clarity.

Im impressed with myself, she told Judge Richards regarding her sobriety. Its been one hell of a ride. You really woke me up by throwing me in jail.

In addition to probation, Ms. Clark was ordered to pay $1,570 in court fines, fees and surcharges, as well as $500 in restitution.

Frederic L. Miller, 59, Buffalo, was sentenced to six months in St. Lawrence County jail and five years of probation supervision for the felony charge of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Mr. Miller was arrested May 3 by the Ogdensburg Police Departments Narcotics Enforcement Unit for selling crack cocaine in the city on three separate occasions, according to police at the time of the arrest.

Mr. Miller also was ordered to pay $375 in court fines, fees and surcharges and $300 in restitution.

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